Container



Nov. 13 1923.

3.l A. K'ETTERER CONTAINER Filed April 16, 1923 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l C. A. KETTERER Nov. 13 1923.

CONTAINER Filed April 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N wm Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

tllil@ STTS CHARLES A. KETTERER, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.

CONTAINER.

Application led April 16, 1923. Serial No. 632,578.

To all who/m. t :may concern.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES A. KETTERER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of East St. Louis, county of St. Clair, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve* ments in Containers, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in containers and has for its primary object a container for holding a refrigerant which is designed to be placed in a display refrigerator and which is equipped with an auxiliary drip-pan located below the container, the drip-pan being so arranged that the depth of the drippings contained therein can be regulated and a predetermined amount of the drippings in the pan retained thus increasing the chilling eliiciency.

A further object is to construct a container for refrigerants which is provided with an auxiliary drip-pan, the drip-pan so arranged as to receive all of the drippings from the container and to be movable with the container so that the same can be withdrawn from a refrigerator for charging purposes without allowing the drippings to get on tothe floor.

In the drawings:

F ig. 1 is a fragmental longitudinal vertical section through the chilling chamber and part of a display refrigerator with my device in position;

F ig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the container with the lid removed and a portion broken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section of a portion of the auX- iliary drip-pan and sho-wing the outlet for the drippings and the manner of adjusting the same and Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section of one corner of the container showing the manner of securing the supporting means.

In the construction of my device I employ a refrigerator having a display chamber 7 and a refrigerating chamber 8. These chambers are separated from each other preferably by means of a reticulated wall 9, this wall allows free circulating of air and at the same time prevents any of the articles on display from falling into the re frigerating chamber. The top and one side of the display chamber are preferably made `of glass so that the contents of the refrigerator can be readily viewed. The refrigerator is provided with a bottom 10 and resting'on this bottoni and within the refrigerating chamber is a drip-pan 11 which is provided with a drain pipe 12. This drain pipe is in turn connected to another pipe, not shown, which carries away the drippings lodging in the pan and discharges it into a sewer o-r other suitable place for waste water. Extending from the front to the back of the refrigerator and at each side of the chilling chamber are bars 13, these bars preferably have tracks 14: secured thereto, the purpose of these tracks will be explained in detail later. Y

My receptacle consists of a combined brine and refrigerant chamber 15, this chamber is preferably rectangular in forni and is provided with an inclined bottom 16. The top edge of the chamber is preferably folded over upon itself, as indicated at 17, for stilfening purposes. Secured to the outside of the chamber 'l5 and along each corner are angle irons 18, these angle irons are all of the same length and project above and below the container. Secured to the lower ends of the angle irons 18 is an auxiliary drip-pan 19, this drip-pan is of such size as to snugly lit on the outside of the angle irons, this makes the drip-pan slightly larger than the receptacle 15 so that moisture triclling down the sides of the receptacle will lodge in the drip-pan. Surrounding the upper ends of the angle irons 18 is a skirt or apron 20. The lower end of this apron projects a slight distance below the upper edge of the receptacle 15 and on account of being placed 'on the outside of the angles, forms a passage way 21. rlhis passageway extends completely around the receptacle 15 eXcep't where it is closed at the corners by the angles. rlhe upper edge of the apron is turned inwardly, forming a flange 22. rlhis flange is not only for stiftening purposes but also prevents cutting of the hands while charging the container.

On topl of the skirt is placed a lid 23, which is provided with openings 24. rl`hese openings permit the entrance of air into the container.A The bottom 16 of the container is provided with a plurality of openingsl 25 through which pipes 26 extend. These pipes are secured to the bottom either by soldering or any other well known manner so that .a leak proof joint will be made. Passing through the pipes 26v are tie rods 2?, these rods extend entirely through the container less diameter than the pipes 29 and areV held in spaced apart position by means of corrugated pipes 32. 1t will be noted that some of the pipes 29 and 81 are relatively short and terminate on the saine plane with the upper edges of the pipes 26. The short pipes 31 have wires or rods 33 extending therethrough. These rods are arranged at right angles to each other and are for the purpose of preventing pieces of crushed ice from entering the pipes 31. The corrugated pipes 30 and 32 also serve the same purpose.l that is, prevent cracked ice from entering the passages between the pipes 26 and 29, and 29 and 31.

Secured to the skirt 2O at the front and back of the container is a bar 34. This bar is longer than the container and has the ends 35 bentV around theV corner of the container and secured to the skirt. These bars Vnot only tend to stiifen the skirt, but are alsoy for the purpose of either suppor' ing the container directly or having rollers 36 attached thereto, which are designed to run on the tracks 14. rllhe container 15'is provided with a drain opening 37 which is normally closed by a cap 88. 1nv this way a considerable amount of brine can be retained in the receptacle 15. The drip-pan 19 is provided in one edge near its bottom with a pipe' 39, to which is swivelly at" tached anV L shaped pipe 40. This is for the purpose of draining the auxiliary drippan'or regulating the amount of drippings contained therein. This regulating is done by turning the l.. shaped pipe on the pipe 39. The position of the openV end of the l. shaped pipe determining the depth of brine in the auxiliary drip-pan. YFor instance, if the pipe is in the position shownV in solid lines in Fig. 5, the drippings will drain out of the pan and leave the pan substantially dry, while if the open` end of the pipe 40 is turned so as to be above the bottom of the drip-pan, the distanceV between the bottoni ofthe pan and the Abottom of the open end Will be the depth ofthe accumula-V tion of brine in the pan.

When the container is withdrawn for newness charging purposes the pipe 40 is turned in floor when the container or pan are Withdrawn and thus defeat my purpose of making the charging of the container a clean dry job.

The drain 37 is for the purpose of draining the container 15 before recharging with -fresh refrigerant and salt for the reason that the brine while chilling the refrigerator will absorb heat units, which will destroy its ei'liciency as a chilling agent thus allowing fresh cold brine to accumulate after each charge. pose of cleaning the container so thatthe accumulated brine will not become charged with impurities and affect the food stuffs'in the refrigerator.

1n the drawings 1 have shown some of the pipes 29 and 31 longerthan others, this may however, be varied to suit the requireinents in different localities and for the display of different food stuifs, as Well Vas to regulate the humidity of the air within the refrigerator.

lfhe operation of my device is as follows o My container is charged in the following manner-the drain pipe 37 is irstclosedby means of a cap SSafter which the container 15 is completely filled with a mixture of Vcracked ice and salt. VThis cracked ice and salt will pack itself around and over *the various tubes with the exception of the long tubes 31. r1`he ice is also preferably piled high enough to fill a portionof the apron or skirt 20. rThe brine resulting from the melting` of the mixture of ice and salt passes down through the tubes or pipes 26, 29 and 31 which it covers to prevent the formation of any frost-therein. A certain amount of this brine also passes between the skirt and top of the container 15 andA runs along the sides of the container thus removing any frost therefrom. All Vof the brine then finds its wayV into the auxiliary drip-pan 19. The depth of which this brine gathers in the auxiliary pan is regulated by means of the pipe connection 49, which has been previously explained. The brine in the auxiliary'drip-pan assists in cooling the air wit-hin the refrigerator which constantly circulates the cold air traveling along the bottom of the display chamber and as it gradually looses its cold rlhe drain is also for the purrising to the top, it then flows along the top of the display chamber and enters-the refrigerating chamber where it is again chilled. bothy by coming in contact with the container and also bypassing into the container and through the pipes 26, 29 and 31 and out through the bottom of the container. ln this way a constant circulation of cold air is maintained and the displayy chamber maintained at a lower temperature than would be possible were the circulating feature not present.

After the device has been in operation for a time, it will be readily seen that the lower part of the container 15 will become filled with an accumulation of brine until it reaches the top of some of the pipes 26 when it will commence to overflow. The depth of the brine in the container 15 is regulated by the height of these pipes and can be varied for different kinds of installation.

l may also if found desirable, extend all of the pipes 31 to a point near the top 23, or l may make all of the pipes short, this being optional and depending upon the amount of moisture desired in the display chamber and also the rapidity of circulation required. ln case of a very slow circulation, all of the pipes are completely covered with ice so that very little air can iind its way through them, the air first havto pass through the ice which retards its passage. lNhile by extending the pipes 31 above the ice level a free and unobstructed passage for air is provided through the central tube.

The tie rods 27 stiften the container to a great extent and prevent the sides from bulging and becoming torn loose from the bottom. rilhis feature is especially essential when installing the device Where ignorant help is employed, this help very often being under the impression that the ice and salt must be tamped tightly int'o the container similar to the manner of packing ice cream. rlhis tamping causing the sides to bulge and also has a tendency to tear the sides away from the bottom.

lNhen it is desired to clean the container, the cap 38 is removed and the brine allowed to drain out, this feature can also be employed where it is not desirable to have an intense cold in the refrigerator, as the resulting brine which is much colder than the ice itself, is allowed to escape quickly and therefore will not produce as much cold within the refrigerator as where the brine is allowed to accumulate and chill the air.

iria-ving fully described my invention what l claim is 1. fr container comprising a brine and refrigerant chamber having an inclined bottom, angle irons secured to the outside of said chamber and projecting above and below said chamber, an apron secured around said angle irons at their upper ends, said apron surrounding the up erfedge of the chamber and spaced apart therefrom by said angle irons, a perforated lid carried by said apron, and an auxiliary drip-pan located beneath said chamber and secured to the bottom of the angle irons, said drip-pan having a greater superficial area than the chamber.

2. A. container comprising a brine and refrigerant chamber having an inclined bottom, air circulating pipes extending through and secured to saidbottom, said pipes terminating at various heights above the bottom within the chamber, angle irons .secured to the outside of said chamber, an apron secured to said angle irons and extending around said chamber adjacent its top and spaced apart therefrom by said angle irons, an auxiliary drip-pan secured to said angle irons below the chamber, a drain for said chamber and means for opening and closing said drain.

3. A container comprising a brine and refrigerant chamber having an inclined bottom, angle irons secured to the outside of said chamber and projecting above and below said chamber, an apron secured around said angle irons at their upper ends,said apron surrounding the upper edge of the chamber and spaced apart therefrom by said angle irons, a perforated lid carried by said apron, and an auxiliary drip-pan located beneath said chamber and secured to the bottom of the angle irons, said drip-pan having a greater superficial area than the chamber, a drain pipe pivotally secured to the auxiliary drip-pan for regulating the level of liquid in said pan.

1l. A container comprising a brine and refrigerant chamber having an inclined bottom, air circulating pipes extending through and secured to said bottom, said pipes terminating at various heights above the bottom within the chamber, angle irons secured to the outside of said chamber, an apron secured to said angle irons and extending around said chamber adjacent its top and spaced apart therefrom by said angle irons, an auxiliary drip-pan secured to said angle irons below the chamber, a drain for said chamber, and means for opening and closing said drain, a drain pipe pivotally secured to the auxiliary drip-pan for regulating the level of liquid in said pan.

5. A container comprising a substantially rectangular brine and refrigerant chamber, angle irons secured to the outside of said chamber at its corners, an apron secured to the outside of said angle irons and surrounding the upper portion of the chamber, a perforated lid adapted to lit on said apron, an inclined bottom for said chamber, a plurality of pipes secured to and through said bottom, said pipes terminating at various heights within the chamber, tie rods extend- CIK ing through the Walls of sai'd chamber and through said pipes, a plurality of pipes l0- oated Within said rst mentioned pipes and of less diameter, said pipes resting on the tie rods, corrugated pipes located Within the pipes whereby said pipes are maintained in spaced apart position, and an auxiliary drip-pan secured to the bottom of the angle irons, said drip-pan being of larger superficial area than the chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES A. KETTERER, 

